As the Organic Cotton Accelerator, we are here to increase industry support for farmers transitioning to and sticking with organic cotton production. In 2023, we continued to deliver impactful support for farmers engaged in our programme while laying the groundwork for future growth. We did this by further investing in data and studies to better demonstrate the benefits of organic farming, especially in light of climate and biodiversity targets, as well as upcoming sector regulations. We also began expanding into new regions.

Our Farm Programme has continued to yield impressive results. Fueled by an increasing number of Brands and Retailers participating in our programme in India and Pakistan, we were able to deliver, on average, higher net incomes for organic farmers when compared to their conventional peers.

One of our key achievements was building out our programme in Pakistan, where we successfully launched the country's first Organic Cotton Training Curriculum. This lays the groundwork for sustainable organic farming practices, benefiting thousands of farmers switching to organic agriculture in the country. Meanwhile, we set up our operations in Türkiye, preparing for our programme piloting in 2024 to further expand our geographic reach in key production countries.

The support and funding for in-conversion farmers have been pivotal in creating a transparent, responsible, and resilient supply chain. For several years now, OCA has actively provided additional support to farmers in the conversion phase toward organic certification. We have done this by ensuring demand and better prices for their product while making additional funding available for capacity-building and training on the ground. Last year we delivered support to close to 36,000 in-conversion farmers.

In 2023, we secured funding and partnerships to begin our work on biodiversity monitoring and regional Life Cycle Assessments. This will provide the Contributors on our platform with valuable and more detailed information on the environmental impact of their organic sourcing activities in relation to overall business targets. Additionally, we rolled out our new Public Affairs strategy; we aim to support the industry to create the right framework for organic cotton uptake and adapt to new regulations, ensuring our community is well-prepared for future far-reaching legislative updates.

Our progress is an example of the power of collaboration. The trust and support from our community of farmers, Implementing Partners, Contributors, and Donors have been essential. In 2023, we saw our community grow to 58 Contributors and partnering Seed Producers, reflecting an ever-growing commitment to our mission of unleashing the true potential of organic cotton, from field to fashion.

Looking ahead, we are filled with optimism and determination. We invite you to join us in supporting the farmers at the heart of our value chain, helping them switch to and sustain organic farming practices. Together, we are ready to embrace the opportunities that lie before us as we continue the journey toward creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for our organic cotton community.